Please allow me to introduce myself

Bit of a Stones fan. I recently sold a '78XS650 and an '82 Vision so have an empty stall in the garage. The XS was primo and the Vision a great runner, honest. My everyday rider is a Wee- Strom, and I have a first year RD200 on the bench. I'm always looking for low miles original Japanese bikes and my current fascination is the Seca. I prefer the 550 because I love the front fairing, but a 650 would be fine. There seems to be a lot for sale, so I expect to find a very nice one hopefully soon. I live in Ontario right on the Michigan border.
I've perused your/our fine forum and couldn't help but notice a proclivity to carburetor maintenance. Is this the Achilles heel for XJ's? Is there anything in particular I should be looking for when viewing Seca's?

 

Welcome!

The carbs aren't any more of a problem than they are on any other bike that is thirty years old, they just have small passages that need to be kept clean.

Do a compression test before buying.

If you want originality, and go with a 550R, make sure all the plastic is there. The right side covers can be hard to find. Likewise, if you go with a 650R, they came with an 8" headlight instead of 7". Also hard to come by.

After buying one you will want to do all of the maintenance items in the service manual, as well as inspect/replace the front brakes and check the rear breaks for delamination. Do these things before riding it, you life depends on them.

 

The carbs can be a pain if they are heavily neglected (as most are when we first encounter them) but are reliable and capable with some TLC.

 

Remember the 550s are a six-speed and chain driven; and the 650s are a shaft-drive 5-speed. The 550s were a three-year bike for North America; the 650 came to the USA for one year and I believe two years for Canada. Carbs are the real common issue as are electrics; and valve adjustment often got neglected so a compression test is always in order so you know what kind of work you're buying.

The shaft-driven bikes have a potential issue with the "primary" chain tensioner breaking up and jamming the gearbox. This requires splitting the cases to fix, but generally occurs on higher-mileage examples. The 550s do not have this issue.

Beyond that, they're like any late '70s-early '80s Yamaha. With CV carbs.

 

WELCOME from TN!!!

skillet

 

Welcome!...GO TURBO!

 

i'am a man of wealth and fame...........

 

Thanks for the welcome and the tips. I already found two Seca 650's that I thought were candidates, but one owner is too grumpy to answer any questions, and the other is asking top dollar for maybe mid quality.

 

"I've been around for a long, long year "


What? Just keeping it going.....WTTC!!


jeff

 

Stole many a man's soul and faith...